The carriage passed quietly over the road leading into the National Republic. The afternoon sun was high in the sky when Zuko looked out as a city drew near. His sister, Azula, sat in front of him, dressed in Regal Fire Nation attire, delicately fussing over her nails. She always had to be so perfect. To his left, their mother Ursa, sat neatly with her hands in her cloak sleeves, a smile playing on her beautiful features. In front of her and to Azula's right, Zuko's uncle Iroh sat in the green and tan hues of the Earth Kingdom that housed his Tea Shoppe, the "Jasmine Dragon", nurturing a small cup of tea, trying vainly to sip at it as the carriage ran over a few bumps in the road. The driver made a hasty apology, but Iroh waved him off.

"No need to apologize. There are bound to be bumps and turns in the road, and regardless of how much we try to avoid them, there will always be more. We can only just accept and learn from them." He smiled warmly when he finally finished his cup.

Zuko acknowled his uncle's positivity with a nod, he had come to learn much from the old General's musings.

"We're getting close now. Fire Lady Ursa, Prince Zuko, Princess Azula, National Republic is a fine little city that I am sure you will come to cherish as I have. The Four Nations coming together as one in harmony. This Integration that you two will be participating in will be a huge step forward, not only for the Fire Nation, but for the other nations as well," Iroh closed his eyes appreciatively as the sounds of the growing city slowly became audible beyond the walls.

The National Republic was still developing, the first official stepping stones of harmony since Avatar Roku had brought balance to a world on the edges of War. Fire Lord Sozin had tried to throw the nations into chaos years ago, but the Avatar had seen the glint of strife in the megalomaniac's eye, and snuffed the spark before it caught flame. It was a devastating blow, as once upon a time, Roku's friendship with Sozin had been as strong as brothers. But he had seen the change overtaking the Fire Lord, he knew his old friend was gone. And after Sozin had initiated the first move, the Avatar had struck him down in a fury. Fire Prince Azulon stepped forward to assume the throne. But Avatar Roku warned him, that if he carried a like-mind as his late Father, he would have no choice but to strike him down the same way. It was the Avatar's Duty to keep balance to the world.

Fire Lord Azulon was wise to heed the Avatar's warning, despite the death of Roku and the sudden disappearance of the new Avatar. But he remained loyal to the laws and tradition's of the Fire Nation, upholding a strict rule of Aristocracy, Hierarchy and Wealth of Power in firm control. However, when the heir to the throne, the aging Prince Iroh, lost his only son and heir in a tragic accident, he was forced to withhold tradition for bloodline, and grant his younger son, Prince Ozai, the Heir Apparent. With his two young children heirs to the throne, and Fire Lord Azulon succumbing to old age, Prince Ozai stepped forward to claim the throne. Though he was as strict as his father had been, he began to see the wisdom in his brother's constant dealings and meandering in and out of the other nations. And when his strategically gifted daughter, young Princess Azula, whispered into his ear the benefits of international trade, the light of power began to shine brighter in his eyes. As Azula, a clear fire bending prodigy at a very tender young age, explained to him, he could uphold the Avatar's warning and keep balance in the world, but gain power at the same time through beneficial trade in and out of the country. The other nations could become dependant on the Fire Nation through goods only developed in there, and earn powerful favours that could keep the family on the throne without fear of government overthrows or assassinations to place new blood in power. He smiled with pride at the genius of Princess Azula. Instead of burning everything to the ground like his foolish grandfather tried to elect, he could build up the other nations and control them like puppets with high favours, eventually over taking them with trust. Azula was truly a Prodigy.

Although she was strategic by birth, her birth was not strategic. Princess Azula was not Heir Apparent to the throne. She was the younger child of Fire Lord Ozai and Fire Lady Ursa. Prince Zuko was the elder child, and thus, heir. This bothered him, for Zuko was not as cunning, conniving and determined as his sister, and he was certainly no prodigy. Fire Lords were powerful, and held a responsibility and reputation high from birth. They didn't have to just "act" like royalty, they had to BE royalty. Ozai blamed his wife for Zuko's weak, almost pathetic, nature. She nurtured him too much. She needed to be strict and not praise him for just trying. Actions spoke loud, but failed attempts screamed at the nationals. But Princess Azula had already thought it through. She already commanded everyone who she encountered, Fire Lord or not. Why be run ragged with the hassles and burdens of the throne when she could easily rule over Zuko's shoulder. She could speak in his ear and lead the Nation while sitting comfortably as Zuko's Second in Command, without being encumbered by the constant nagging that came with ruling a country. Fire Lord Ozai obviously agreed. His daughter was Perfection incarnate.

Prince Iroh decided to become a teacher at the academy in National Republic, having observed and learned much from the other Nations and Elements of Air, Water and Earth respectively. He wanted to contribute as much as he could to the harmonious mingling of the Nations. He understood and respected their individual traditions and, after conversing with his brother, the Fire Lord, found the approval of taking his Nephew and Niece to learn Integration in the City. He wanted Prince Zuko to know the importance of balance in the world, and balance with the other elements, as he, like Iroh, was a powerful fire bender, though not as acclaimed as his sister, who could bend an intense blue flame.

So now was Prince Zuko and his family, arriving into National Republic. They would be staying at the Royal suite situated just outside of the southern part of the city. Once they reached the ornately large house and settled their things, Fire Lady Ursa urged her children to go into the city and become acquainted with the denizens. They would start at the academy in a couple of days, and she wanted them to feel comfortable with the other students. She smiled approvingly at her son and daughter.

"Here, children, we are not seen as royalty or commoners, but as equals. I want you to keep that in mind at all times. Your father wishes you to represent the Fire Nation in all it's glory and respect, but to do so," here she emphasized the importance of her words to Azula by gently squeezing her shoulder, "you must learn to respect and understand the other nations as equals."

She knew her daughter's stubborn nature and drive to win by any means necessary. Ursa was one of the few who were wise to Azula's soft words.

Currently the fifteen year old princess was tugging the sleeve of her seventeen year old brother's gold and crimson robes. "Come Zuko, if we want to be equal as mum says, then we have to ditch our royal attire for some common garb. Let's go mingle with the peasants of the city."

"Azula!"

Zuko raised an eyebrow, a slightly concerned look gracing his flawless features. His golden gaze drifted from his sister to his mother, who had replaced her smile with a look of stern displeasure. Azula raised a hand up in mock disgrace, "I was only joking, Mother. Just trying to lighten the mood. Come on, Zuzu." Zuko grimaced at the use of the nickname. She had been calling him that since they were little. He hoped vainly she would refrain from using it while they attended the academy together, but he knew the chances of that happening were slim to nothing.

After changing from his regal wear to a gold-edged, black short-sleeved outfit with a gold belt tied around his middle and black pants with matching knee-length boots, he met Azula outside by the carriage. She was wearing a burgundy and gold top that cut off in the middle, baring her lean stomach and toned abs, a knee-length matching sarong with darker pants underneath, and black shoes. She was toying with a gold dragon arm band. Her hair was twirled up and held in place with a marbled hair stick, strands fanning out behind her head.

"That's all you are going to represent the Fire Nation with Zuzu? Black and Gold? Well, at least you wear it well, I'll just tell everyone we meet that you are mourning a dead girlfriend or something equally depressing."

He narrowed his bright gold eyes in a glare at his sister and climbed in the cart after her. Azula crossed her left leg over her right with air of annoyance, bringing her left hand up to inspect her nails again.

"This integration better be worth our time and not just some silly year-long camping trip Uncle tricked us into. It's bad enough we can't appear exactly as we are, Fire Nation Royalty!"

Zuko knew she was playing coy. She had agreed to this without much prompting. He smirked,

"C'mon Azula, it will should be interesting for you. You get to boss around all-new people, and they won't even know who you are, or why they're listening to you. It will be just like when we vacationed on Ember Island last summer."

Azula titled her hand and looked at him, a grin appearing on her face. "Well, it was amusing destroying that governor's house. His son deserved it anyway. I mean, who doesn't invite US to their party?!"

Zuko smirked again, reeling his sister in, "I hear the earth benders around here have a pretty bad attitude. Should be a nice challenge for you. Might also be an interesting experience to fight in a match against a water bender..."

A devious glint appeared in the princess' eye as she knit her eyebrows close together. "Do they now...well, we'll just have to see about that."

A group of teenagers sat next to a large decorative fountain in the middle of a rest area. A tanned-skinned boy sitting reclined back on the edge of the fountain, dressed in blue clothes and hair pulled back in a pony tail, was conversing with a young bald monk with enormous grey eyes and blue arrow tattoos on his head and hands. Next to them sat a long haired boy in green Earth Kingdom clothes similar to Uncle Iroh's. He was concentrating, chin in hand, fingers tracing a silly looking mustache on his upper lip and right arm wrapped around his middle. He leaned on a stone marble game with another young Earth Kingdom clad youth, a dark-haired girl with bare feet. She was laying down on the bench of the fountain, facing away from the boy, left leg crossed over her right, chewing on the fingernails of her right hand. When the boy flicked a pebble from his hand down to the marbles of the game, it shot one of the stone marbles off the bench. But before it got far, the girl slammed her hand onto the stone fountain and a random rock flew off the ground, blasting the marble into the sky. The boy's hand went from his chin in a disbelieving sign.

A few feet away from the fountain, a boy in a straight legged wheelchair was showing off some tricks to a girl dressed in a pink top and baggy pink pants. She had a long braided brunette pony tail, and seemed possessed with an exaggerated personality. She was clapping her hands exultingly then, when she suddenly bent down and started walking on her hands. She walked all the way to the bench were the others were talking, climbed up and then rested down on her chest, her legs coming up behind her like a scorpion tail. She looked interested in the game the earth youths were playing, then shrugged as her feet came to rest down on her shoulders.

Zuko took in the sight as the cart slowed and stopped near the rest area. He and his sister climbed out and waved the driver away. They'd call for a city carriage when they needed one. Azula crossed her arms and eyed the teenagers before turning to walk away, "If these are the challenges you were talking about, I'm not interested. I'm going to see if there is a decent market around here, but Agni know's there likely isn't. I'll meet you back here at sun down."

Zuko made a quick glance to see which direction Azula was headed and started walking up to the teens. His hair was short but his bangs were long enough to sweep into his eyes from time to time. He didn't quite know how to approach them, but was relieved when the boy with the pony tail looked up at him and waved his hand, thumb, ring and middle fingers extended.

"Hey. You attending the Integration Academy here in Republic? I could tell. Young, bored, no idea what to make of it and just trying to find something to pass the time away. Join the club, not much of a choice anyway."

Zuko put his hands in his pockets. Yeah, that pretty much summed it up. He raised an eyebrow in agreement and raised his left hand in a questioning gesture, but the boy began speaking again.

"What, us? We did exactly what you're doing. A cab dropped us off and we just kind of sat here. We don't really know each other, but a few of us have met a couple days earlier. My name is Sokka. I'm from the Southern Water Tribe. My comrade here is Aang, he's an Airbender from the Eastern Air Temple...or was it Southern...or both? Well anyways, he's Aang."

The monk stood up and bowed respectfully to him. He pulled his hands up in a Fire Nation flame greeting and bowed. Sokka leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and gestured a thumb to the two Earth Kingdom kids.

"Over there with the hair and moustache is Haru. I forgot which city it is he is from...hey where are you from again?" Haru looked back smiling, "I'm from..." Sokka cut him off quickly, waving his hand half heartedly, "yes yes, anyways."

Haru frowned, his thin mustache outlining his unhappy mouth. The green bandana seemed to highlight his brow together, making him look like a very unhappy panda-cat. Sokka pulled a face and continued,

"Ah-dunno wha' that was 'bout...let's carry on. The girl picking her nose and flicking it is Toph Bei Fong. She's from Gaoling City. She's this crazy powerful Earth Bender." Sokka suddenly leaned forward with his hand shielding his mouth away from her and mimed the words "she's blind" and then pulled his lips in a upside down U and bugging his eyes, thrusting a thumb in her direction. He nodded to assure Zuko, but a large rock flew out of no where and struck the water tribesman in the head. He yelped and cupped his ear.

Toph shouted up from her seat, "I can still see you, fool!" Sokka shrugged, scrunched his and shook his head,

"I dunno how she does it. But over there in the wheels is Teo and the girl staring you down...in a creepy sort'a way...is Ty Lee." Zuko had not noticed the girl had moved from the fountain and suddenly appeared at his right shoulder.

He jumped a little as two big grey eyes rivaling those of the monk stared deeply into his face, "Wow, you are GORGEOUS!" she was leaning up at him, coming closer to his face. He blushed and shifted uncomfortably, feeling quite awkward as the girl scrutinized him. "You have THE PRETTIEST gold eyes I have EVER seen!"

Zuko took a step away from her and cleared his throat. He waved slowly, "..er...Hey. My name is Zuko. I'm from the Fire Nation." Sokka suddenly stood up hands shooting one to his side and the other to his chin, a suspicious and accusing look on his face.

"You're from the Fire Nation?"

"..yes?"

Sokka's eyes narrowed and eyed Zuko up and down. "hmmm..." Zuko suddenly realized he was holding his breath. He was the Prince of the FIRE NATION and heir to the throne! Why should he care that this guy was eyeballing him. Why did his impending judgement have to matter to a Prince like Him?!

Sokka suddenly smiled broadly, realization dawning on his face, "You're a fire bender, aren't you!" Zuko's eyebrow raised slowly, "yeaa..."

Sokka shouted excitedly, pumping a fist in the air! Even Aang jumped up in surprise, sending him fifteen feet up. "You HAVE to show us some moves! C'mon! Shoot some fireballs and some flamethrowers!" He started punching the air and kicking out. As Aang landed, he ducked, barely missing Sokka's boot to the face. Zuko smiled and shook his head.

Aang and Sokka sat back down, waiting expectantly. Ty Lee, after being both rejected and ignored, sauntered off to mingle with some occupants sitting at a table arm wrestling.

"Well I'm pretty good, but if you really want to see some master fire bending, you should ask my sister Azula. She's sort of a Prodigy. My dad always said she was born Lucky..." he rubbed the back of his neck. It felt kind of silly to be praising his sister, when he really should be trying to make and impress some friends. His face turned serious and he took a stance, legs bent out and arms held in front of him, "But, I've been training under some of the best fire benders in the world since I was a kid." He turned around and punched his fists forward and two jets of flame exploded out toward the road. He then kicked up high, sending a fire-ball up into the sky. Swinging the same leg down, he created a wall of flame and pushed it away before spinning around and sending another jet of flame out from his other foot. A few of other teenagers that had sat furthest away in the rest area had moved closer and joined the group, clapping and cheering. Except for Toph, who had abandoned chewing her nails for picking at her toes. "Meh, I bet I could still beat you in a fight, with both eyes closed."

Zuko faced them and chuckled, he seemed to be the only one to catch the blind joke as the others were either nodding or shaking their heads. He turned around and faced the road again, going into another bending stance. "I've never challenged an Earth Bender before, but I've won more than enough Agni Kai fights..."

"Who's in a fight?" with the exception of Toph, the group turned their heads to see who had spoken. A tan skinned girl had walked up beside the fountain. She wore blue clothes almost identical to the one's Sokka was wearing, save for that they were made for a girl. Her long brown hair was swept up and back in a long braid that went down to her hips and two loops of hair connected from her bangs to a bun pulled above the braid. She crossed her arms, looking down at Sokka with an eyebrow raised, "You're not starting any fights, are you Sokka?" The young water tribesman shook his had and gestured toward Zuko.

"No, Katara, I'm not. We were just asking Zuko here to show us some bending moves. He's a fire bender from the Fire Nation. Hey Zuko, this is my sister, Katara. Katara, that's Zuko." Zuko turned around and stood straight, bowing his head down and bringing his hands up in a formal flame greeting. When he opened his eyes and looked back up, the sight of her struck him down.

The girl was absolutely beautiful. She had big, sapphire blue eyes and graceful features. But the intensity of her gaze was enough to understand she could hold her own. He could tell by the light that shining through that she was as much of a fighter as he was. But in all her severity, he couldn't help but look at her. His eyes barely left hers but he had plenty of time to notice her fair nose and plump lips. She was just so exotic. He quickly concentrated back on her eyes, they were as equally brilliant as Azula's fire...Azula. The thought of his strict sister snapped him back to his senses. He composed himself quickly.

"..er...oh, er...right. Right, sorry. Sokka asked me to display some bending manuevers. Then Toph remarked how she could beat me in a match. I said I had never challenged an Earth Bender before, but I've won a few Agni Kai's."

Katara's gaze softened with understanding. She arched another delicate eyebrow, this time in confusion, "An...Agney what?"

"Agni Kai. It's a traditional fighting duel between two fire benders that dates back for hundreds of years. The challenge is made and fought for one's honour when all other solutions to whatever the dispute is fail and is over when one bender burns the other. It isn't made or taken lightly." Having finished the sentence, Zuko looked away slightly ashamed. He didn't expect the others to understand the circumstances on why he had to accept such challenges.

Katara looked him over, but couldn't discern whether he was hiding any burns. He certainly didn't have any showing on his arms or face. His completely Flawless face. His porcelain skin didn't have a blemish anywhere on it. She looked him over from his short jet black hair, slightly longer bangs sweeping over his honey-golden eyes, to his straight nose...his narrow chin..his strong jaw line, to his lean but sturdy looking body. It was as if he was carved and chiseled from white marble stone, like the fountain she stood near. She could tell he was bred from some high-ranking bloodline. It was almost sickening how perfect he looked. With a slight blush, she realized she had been staring him up and down, like some hot-stricken girl. She cleared her throat, remembering just what she had walked back to the group for.

"Oh...ah, any ways. I checked out the Markets, there are fliers everywhere from the Academy. They mentioned that we'll all be registering and meeting our headmasters in two days. I also saw quite a few restaurants if anyone is hungry."

A few of the crowd voiced their agreements and they started moving off in the direction Katara had walked in from. Only the water tribe siblings, as well as Aang and Toph lingered behind. Sokka braced his hands on his knees and stood up.

"Well that was definitely some news worth hearing. I'm starving. Did you happen to see any meat specific restaurants, I'm not in the mood for any soups or noodles," he looked at Aang, who was ducking shyly away.

"Sorry Sokka, the monks teach us that all life is sacred, even the tiniest -..." Sokka cut him off impatiently,

"eh-yea yeah, spider flies and nonsense, I gotcha. But had I known you were going to be so strict on our diets, I -one: would never have accepted you joining our traveling carriage, and -two: wouldn't have put YOU in charge of arranging our food. Bleh...so Zuko, you heading to the market?"

The fire bender crossed his arms and looked away, shaking his head, "No. I was thinking about looking around the city, maybe checking out the Academy."

Sokka walked over and lightly punched Zuko's arm. "Well good! We were going to do that anyway, might as well stay as a group. C'mon gang...gAang! Hah! That's a good one!"

They walked along the street towards the Marketplace. Zuko listened as Sokka animatedly explained their voyage to National Republic, from receiving a letter asking the the tribe's people if they would volunteer a few chosen individuals to partake in the "big'est step in cultural harmony history" to meeting up with Aang, who turned out to be the newly discovered, or rather recovered Avatar, to traveling through Gaoling, where Toph joined them.

"Yeah, it wasn't a fluke on my behalf. Ice dodging was relatively easy my first time, and I succeeded with ease. But this time, a crazy looking giant ball of ice surfaced out of no where and we ended up crashing the ship right into it. Took all our water benders and some genius ingenuity just to get us to safety. Then the next thing we know," Sokka brought his hands together and then opened them suddenly, wiggling his fingers for emphasis, " this blue light bursts out of the ice and this kid and a giant furry mass of snot come flying, and I mean LITERALLY, come flying out. It was the craziest thing I had ever seen, and I've seen Katara wake up in the morning!"

Katara blushed, looking quickly from Sokka to Zuko, then back to Sokka again. She glared at her brother and punched him in the arm. Zuko smirked, mumbling to himself, "Must have been something, then." It came out a little louder and more awkward sounding than what he would have wished. But if Sokka had heard the comment, he didn't show any sign of it, and neither did Katara, to Zuko's relief.

Walking to a marketplace amidst friends was a very different and unusual experience for Zuko. All his life he had to follow a strict and direct set of rules. He had to learn discipline and obedience and to watch his posture, how he walked, how he spoke, he even had to be careful how he looked at someone. Then, once his father had been crowned the New Fire Lord, everything turned upside down. Military rule was his daily routine and martial training was non-stop. And though he was no longer reprimanded for a haughty attitude or scornful eye, he had to live up to higher expectations and had to sacrifice more of himself. Just being good at anything, was not good enough. He had to be Perfect. He had to be just like Azula. His life until now had demanded of him both physically and emotionally.

The sudden acceptance and easy air about them was a welcoming relief. Not to mention the attractive company he now gained. He saw Katara out of the corner of his eye, talking with Toph at her brother's right. He was at Sokka's left and Aang on the other side of him. He saw her smile as she looked forward again. Something about her attracted him so much, but he couldn't quite put his thumb on it. It wasn't a REAL attraction in the sense. He just met this girl, not an hour ago. But he couldn't help but want to get another good look at her. Maybe that's what it was. He had never been around any water tribe girls, or people for that matter. In fact, the Fire Nation was all he knew. That must be it. She was just different from the girls back home. He would see plenty of other girls at the Academy in a few days.

Zuko looked at the first stall in the market. There were so many different things in just this one little stand. Everything was all so foreign. The integration really was going to be a step forward. He walked around, visiting the other vendors, taking notice at all the different jewelery, clothing, and decorations on display. Everything had a little bit of it's own culture in them.

On a wall behind one of the stalls, several large, decorative fans were put on display. He saw a green cotten fan with a thick coiling, brown scaley dragon coming out of a mountain painted on the front of it. It had a snarling tiger-like face with earth and sand spraying from it's maw. Where the spray fell, plants and trees where growing from it. Next to that fan was a red silken one with a serpent-like, firey coloured dragon dancing through the clouds, tusked teeth and flames shooting out of it's mouth. It had antlers growing out of it's head and elbows, and a row of spikes going down it's back. Rays of light from the sun shown behind it. A white linen fan was anging below with a golden-maned white dragon coming out of the heavens. It held a glowing orb in it's claws and had blue wisps spiraling from it's snout. Multicoloured leaves were dancing in front of the wisps. Another fan, made of a much thicker material than the others, was painted in different shades of blue meant to represent the ocean, was displayed next. The dragon depicted on it was covered in dark azure fur instead of scales, and was spewing a large wave of water from it's mouth. In the wave of water were many different types of sea creatures. Zuko looked closer at the dragon. Two sapphire gems were set as it's eyes and small shards of blue beads were representing it's claws and horns. He realized each fan was made with the unique goods from their respective Nations.

"They're all so beautiful, aren't they?"

Zuko started at the voice that suddenly manifested itself beside him. Katara leaned forward to inspect the intricate fans. "They follow the pattern of the Elements: Earth, Fire, Air, Water. The vendor told me each of these fans was made in it's own nation, and yet look how their designs interlock. The Earth dragon's plants are growing under the Sun dragon's light. The Sun Dragon is spreading light by riding the currents of wind from the Air Dragon. The Air Dragon is getting into the heavens with the power of a giant pearl from the ocean given by the Water Dragon, and the Water dragon was given a place to put the ocean by the Earth Dragon. Every Element needs each Element to live in Harmony. It's Beautiful." her eyes were shining even in the shadow of the stall.

Zuko looked back to the fans, noticing the little details of the other fans interlocking with each other. It was a simple trick of the merchant vendor. He had these fans created to be sold as a set, and when the right, gullible customer came around, he'd tell them the story of their crafting and explain the 'coincedences' of the pictures interlocking. Of how they just needed to be together. And of course, the hapless customer would believe him and buy all four. He shook his head and smirked, at least it was a nice story. He turned and walked out of the stall. Sokka and Aang were further down the street at what appeared to be a food court. They saw him and began waving him over. He began making his way to the restaurant, leaving Katara in at the stall.

She looked up at Zuko and saw him half grin and shake his head. He seemed amused by what she told him, or maybe it was disbelief? He turned to walk out of the stall and Katara watched him go. It did seem like an incredulous story. But it would've been nice to share a thought about it. She walked out of the stall, her mind roaming over itself. Who was this Fire Bender from the Fire Nation?

He was quiet, self contained, held his honour, well trained...wait, what? How do I know these things? I just met him, and I haven't even hung out with him yet. He's probably just shy or something? No, that couldn't be it, he had shown off for her brother and his friends...could he...does he not like me or something?

She thought back at the fountain. He had expressed his bending abilities to them, but not her. When she told them of the market, he didn't want to go with them at first, then he didn't say anything on the walk here. He went by himself to the stalls that he didn't even want to see in the first place, and then when she had walked up to him and started talking to him, he left. She placed her hands on her hips and pouted angrily, "So what, am I not good enough for him or something?" she turned and crossed her arms, sticking her chin up. Agney K'eye honour, hmph! She slammed her hands up in a backwards flame greeting and stiffed a bow, mocking how Zuko had done to her. Hmph...?!

She only just realized she had been too taken aback with the fire bender than she never returned a greeting. Could that be it?! Did he think she was rude for not having accepted or returned his greeting? She grabbed her braid and started running her hands over it. Her eyebrows nitted together, what should she do? Go back and try to apologize? But he left her alone in that stall! Maybe that's what he shook his head for? Was he waiting for a formal apology or a response? Then why did he grin and shake his head?! She threw her hands down. Fine! If he was going to be stupid enough to ruin a friendship before it even started all because of some stupid greeting, then she didn't care! She would meet many other guys at the Academy! Guys just as good looking and perfect as him, but with better attitudes who were CLEARLY interested in her! She ran a hand back and under her braid, flicking it up with attitude. Keeping her chin high, she stalked off towards the food court.

The Stall Vendor kept his eyebrows raised high on his forehead, concern appearent on his face as he watched the girl argue with herself. His left eyebrow slowly lowered in worried confusion as she threw her hands down and flicked her braid back, pulling a tight chin before walking off. He puffed out his lips and shook his head and whispered to the spirits.

.

.

Azula had seen enough of the city, she wanted the action her brother had mentioned. Except for a few lazy bench oafs, this side of National Republic had little to offer for entertainment. Maybe staying together would have been more lucrative? Whatever the initial result, she was going back now. At least there had been a crowd that could have swooned over her despite the disgust she would have felt for them.

When she arrived back at the rest area, Zuko and the crowd were gone. She scanned the area. Near the road was what appeared to be scorch marks. Had her brother gotten into a fight? She glared hatred. It should have been HER defeating some witless peasant foolish enough to take up a challenge! She inspected a little more. No. It was no fight. There were no other burns than those by the road. Nor were there any signs of other elemental bending. No displaced earth or rock, no splashes of water or dried sediment. She looked at the grass and surrounding trees. Not an unnaturally bent blade, twig or leaf in sight. No Airbending. She grinned maliciously. This was a display. So Zuzu had found himself an audience. Well, she hoped they enjoyed a two part act. She was going to bring in the real lights to the theatre! She started walking down the road, then knelt down near the grass. One foot print was all she needed to find them.

Katara sauntered into the food court, sitting down huffily next to Toph. She made it quite clear something was wrong. Much of the earlier rest area occupants had taken up attendance in the small eatery. A low hubbub was going on in the far right corner of the shoppe. Sokka, Aang, Haru and four other boys were huddled together shaking cups with objects clattering around inside. Someone issued a quick "Now!" and each boy clapped a cup down on the ground. They preceded in peeking under their cups and looking around at the other boys, suspicion quite evident. Katara looked over and saw Zuko sitting at a table looking in on the game. He hadn't looked up to notice her yet. In fact, no one but Toph really knew she had even walked in. But they didn't matter anyway. She heard Sokka start speaking to the group,

"Fine, if that's what you think, but I call you out Haru, I DO NOT think there are at least eight Koh's on the floor." All the boys removed their hands and showed small cubes with different faces on them. Sokka's three cubes showed two bear faces and one without a face. Aang had two faceless spots and one lady. Haru had two cubes, a bear and a lady. A young boy, no more than nine or ten, had one cube, faceless. Next to him was a giant boy, he had three cubes: a bear, a faceless and a woman. A thin boy with a painted face and frizzy hair stood next to Aang. His cubes showed two women and a bear. Sokka started gnawing his finger tips. This would decide his or Haru's fate. A boy wearing a large hat sat next to the painted boy. His cubes showed two faceless and a bear.

"Ah Man! Stupid Koh!" Sokka handed in one of his cubes and stuck three blue coins into a pile of multi coloured coins in the middle of the group. Katara huffed again.

Toph turned her head in the direction of Katara, "Found anything worth getting at the stalls, Sugar Queen?" Katara glared at the young Earth Bender.

"No! Boys are just stupid!"

Toph nodded in acknowledgement. "Oh I understand. Sokka's gambling with YOUR money, huh?"

Another exclamation from Sokka made Katara roll her eyes and look out at the food court. She nearly fell off her chair in shock. Standing in the door frame of the restaurant was a near identical female version of Zuko. Her hair was fanned out behind her, the light shining through the black strands making it look like a crown of horns erupting behind her. She stepped into the building and the hubbub began to die down.

Toph perked up suddenly, "Hey! what happened? I was watching that game, I wanted to make Sokka lose his last cube!" all male eyes were turned to Azula. Katara huffed inwardly, they sure didn't do that when SHE had walked in.

"Oh please, don't ruin your fun on my account. Carry On." She walked over to where Zuko, and a now cubeless Sokka were sitting and placed herself gracefully down in front of her brother. Slowly the chatter in the building began to return.

"Brother. You left to have fun without me. Why didn't you tell me you were such a crowd pleaser?" She folded her hands on her lap, then crossed her right leg over her left.

Her gaze swept from Zuko to Sokka at the right. She raised an annoyed eyebrow, looking him in the eye. Like it had done to thousands of people she had set her dead stare on before, she expected him to curl upon himslf like a dying spider-fly and beg her Highness to please let him be excused. But this boy didn't do that. He stared back, pools of ice meeting pits of firey abyss. Azula knitted her eyebrows together angrily, nostrils slowly starting to flare. Zuko understood this look all too well. He glanced from his friend to his sister, then back to his friend again. He elbowed Sokka in the rib, trying to break the tension. Sokka started to mumble aloud, "ahhh...and then an alabaster queen appeared before the Mighty Warrior and he said loudly, "Her Heart Shall Be Conquered!" ohh yessss, and she replied to him, "Please My Dark Southern King, Conquer Me! Conquer Me ALL..."

"SOKKA!" Aang had appeared beside Sokka's chair and lazily slapped him across the face. Like Monk Gyatso had done to the older teenage monks when they did stuff not allowed in the Temples. Sokka grabbed the right side of his face and closed the corner of his eye in a squint, "oh sweet Tui and La, Aang! What the he-..." Aang pointed a cautionary finger at Azula, who was still staring venomously at Sokka. He started and slowly looked at Zuko sitting next to him. He was clutching the table, shrinking back in his chair, a disgusted grimace plastered on his face. He was shaking his head back and worth, miming the word "no."

Sokka quickly composed himself, clasping his hands together on the table, heroically pushing through the embarrassment and boiling hot blush that flooded his cheeks, "oh...you heard that...did I say that out loud? Because...ah...So any way, I heard Zuko was your brother. Hi. Name's Sokka, " he leaned on the table and pointed his thumb and finger at the Fire Princess, winking his eye and clicking his tongue, "howarya!"

Zuko looked back at his sister, who's stare looked like it could set Sokka on fire, and he actually began to worry that it just might. But instead of flames, Azula's mouth started to curl up in one corner and her scowl started to soften into a smile. He almost became frightened when Azula loosened up and...began laughing? Zuko tilted his head, pulling his mouth back in another grimace. This was not an emotion or behaviour he knew his sister to possess. He thought maybe she had lost the ability of expressing those years ago. Azula lowered her laughing to a chuckle and met back with Sokka's hopeful smile.

"oh...you'll have to pardon my outburst. I thought perhaps I had developed the ability to make someone go incredibly insane by just looking them in the eye, but it seems you're like this all the time. I just thought it was very amusing that one could be BORN that way." And there was the Azula that Zuko remembered so fondly.

"Zuko, where are your manners? Aren't you going to introduce me to your newfound friends?"

The fire Prince sighed and stood, "Sokka, this my sister, Azula of the Fire Nation. Azula, this is Sokka, of the Southern Water Tribe." he turned to Aang who had sat down with a huge smile on his oblivious face when Azula started laughing, "Azula, this is the Air Nomad Aang. He is a monk born of the Eastern Air Temple and raised in the Southern Air Temple." Aang stood and bowed, the fire insignia gracing his hands.

Azula nodded curtly, "Well it is good to see at least one of your friends has manners and decency. Who is that girl that was giving you a dirty look before I came in, Zuko? The one over there," she didn't look as she pointed a filed nail at Katara. The girl looked up in surprise, embarrassment flushed on her cheeks. "Oh, she is Sokka's sister, Katara...I didn't know she was looking at me," he said the last sentence slowly, looking up at Katara.

Her heart hammered in her throat as two pairs of topaz eyes suddenly stared her down; she had been targeted. The new girl had exposed her silly charade, she saw her mouth "looking at you" and then she had pointed a finger straight at her.

Toph turned her sightless eyes on Katara, her brows knitting together, "oath Katara, what's wrong with you? Feels like you're about to have a heart attack. Keep it together Ice Princess before you fall apart. All she said was that you were giving Zuko a dirty look. What's so bad about that?"

Toph's remark snapped Katara out of her anxiety attack. "I wasn't looking at Zuko...I was...looking at Sokka. He lost the game." she got up and made her way over to her brother, crossing her arms "I wasn't giving Zuko a dirty look, I was giving SOKKA a dirty look for gambling! I don't even really know Zuko yet, why would I want to be looking at him?!" she looked down pointedly at Azula.

The Fire Princess smirked, then began inspecting her nails, "oh, well I noticed the general direction at which you were staring, and the only person I knew who was seated there was my brother. You must understand I was only looking out for him, we are but foreigners in an unknown land." She said it as if it was a practiced speech. It caught Katara off-guard. They were all foreigners here, except for the Earth Kingdom individuals, but even they hadn't been to this island. She had been putting up a stiff front, not wanting to seem vulnerable from her embarrassment, but the Fire Nation girl easily broke through any facade she had, using something as simple as sibling compassion. "Oh..." her eyes darted to Zuko, had been glaring at his sister, but was now looking dejectedly off to his left. She was about to apologize when Sokka shouted eagerly.

"Hey! Zuko said you were a Master Fire Bender! He was showing us a few things in the park, but could YOU show us some moves?"

Azula looked squarely at Sokka. This water peasant was bold. Few people could speak easily to her without showing signs of fear or restraint. She had to admit, it was a little amusing. "My brother spoke so highly of me? I'm flattered, but that is something I would expect of him. Yes, he is right. I AM a Master Fire Bender. But I'm afraid I don't see any opponents here worthy of a challenge." Her eyes scanned the room unimpressed.

"Well, a match would be too dangerous here, especially a match with fire," Azula smirked a little more as Sokka continued, "but a display or something would be really great. I've always wanted to see a flame show. Growing up in the South Pole, we don't get much more than snow, ice and really cold water. A campfire was as good as it got."

Zuko had been paying close attention to his sister from the moment she walked it. Something about her seemed off. Was she not being cruel enough? She should have tried to manipulate someone by now, but other than make Katara, and himself, embarrassed, she hadn't done much more. She was still as grudgingly Chauvinistic as ever, but she hadn't struck anyone down yet, nor made them run away crying in fear. And Sokka...what Sokka had said, she had laughed! Deep down, could his maniacal, cruel and conniving sister be an actual teenage girl?

Zuko could only shrug and watch as things unfolded in from of him. But he had to admit, his new friend Sokka was something else. He showed no fear, nor embarrassment. Instead of letting something get him down or make him fail in his attempts, he was persistent and tried to save face and make the best of the situation. And he had spoken to his sister and had not burst into flames. He chuckled, shaking his head in bewilderment, he was beginning to really enjoy this new friend.

Sokka leaned forward winking at Azula, "So, will a Gorgeous woman show us a beautiful display of Fire Bending power? Ay..ay?" both Zuko and Katara raised their brows. He was tenacious. Azula held up a hand, index and ring fingers pointed to the ceiling. A small blue flame appeared at the tips, and then spread to cover her hand. Some onlookers gasped and a silence fell on the food court. She leaned forward and locked eyes with Sokka.

"You want to see some Fire Bending Power? Fine. I'll show you some REAL Fire Bending Power!"